To complete a critical evaluation of young adult literature,
it is important that literary elements and devices are used to enhance and
convey a story’s message. Some literary elements that might be included in the
evaluation are antagonist and protagonist, character, conflicts, mood and tone,
plot, setting, and themes. Literary devices that could be included in critical
evaluation include, allegory, allusion, archetype, Dues ex machine, hyperbole,
imagery, metaphor, point of view, simile, and symbolism. Themes play a big part
in books. The theme is not the main idea or a single word, however, it is a
message stated in complete sentences by the author. The theme is an idea a
writer repeats throughout the book. Themes need to apply to the world outside
the novel, and you should be able to find text evidence. Themes do not have to
be singular, there can be more than one theme in the novel. After reading a
book one person may come up with a theme and have text evidence to prove it,
while another person may come up with a different theme altogether. As long as
there is text evidence, any theme is possible. Two questions that will be
useful guides when fining theme are: What message is the author trying to
convey to the reader, and is this message universal; does it apply outside of
the story to the world at large? After not only reading the chapter, but also
watching the video on theme, it got me to start thinking about how I have
analyzed books in the past and got theme confused with motifs. I thought it was
a great idea when it was stated in the video to start out teaching theme and
understanding theme by using a picture book. This is useful information I
didn’t think about and can take with me as I start creating library lessons.
This is also something I can share with teachers that they can take to their
classrooms. When I evaluate young adult literature, I will be more vigilant of
themes portrayed in the book as opposed to motifs. After looking up the
definition of some of the literature devices and elements, I can better pick
out and understand these literary devices and elements as I am reading young
adult literature.
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